Swimming apparatus.



No. 797,223. PATENTED AUG. 15, 1905. G. P. RANDOLPH. SWIMMING APPARATUS.

APPLIGATION FILED NOV. 27, 1903.

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gm [mas WW 1 ii /dam No. 79%223. PATENTED AUG. 15, 1905 O. P. RANDOLPH.

SWIMMING APPARATUS.

PILIGATIOT FILED Nov. 27 1903. A L a SHEETS-SHEET a.

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OF OCEANPARK, CALIFORNIA.

$WIMWIING APPARATUS Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 15, 1905.

Application file-1 November 27, 1903. Serial No. 182,766.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLABEoRN P. RAN- DOLPII, a citizen of the UnitedStates, resid ing at Oceanpark, in the county of Los An geles and Stateof California, have invented a new and useful Swimming Apparatus, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an apparatus designed for aquatic amusements,instruction in swimming, or hygienic purposes which will support anddraw persons through the water.

The object of the invention is to provide a device of the characterdescribed which. may be employed by those learning to swim, but which isalso a pleasure-seeking apparatus adapted to be enjoyed not only byswimmers or persons learning to swim, but by others who are physicallyincapacitated to support or propel themselves through the water or whowish to enjoy being drawn through the water either as a pastime or forthe hygienic effect produced.

Another object is to provide a new and improved propelling means adaptedfor the purposes set forth which may be arranged to have various pathsof travel.

The generic nature of the invention. provides for the apparatus beingerected to secure a travel in a straight, tortuous, 01' curved path,rectangular, oval, circular, or other delined circuit.

The invention. embraces a traveling conveying means which carries aseries of pendants, which pendants may or may not be equipped withdevices for securing them to the swimmers body and another object of theinvention is to provide a novel form of pendant which when released fromuse automaticallymoves itself out of the way above the water.

Other objects are to produce an apparatus of the class described whichis simple in construction, effective in operation, and safe.

Another object is to provide means which are within the ready control ofthe swimmer, which. will allow the swimmer to remain sus pended, and yetpermit the swimmer to advance by his own efforts, even though he doesnot swim as fast as the propelling-conveyor, and which will allow theswimmer when he desires to cause the pendant to which he is attached tobe propelled by the conveyer.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention.

Referring to the drawings, Figure I is a plan view of the apparatus,showing an engine connected by a belt with the apparatus for driving thesame. Fig. II is a vertical longitudinal section through the apparatus,taken on. line II II of F ig. I. Fig. III is a detail of a post, itsbrackets for supporting the track and driving gear, the track-rail beingshown in section. Fig. IV is a detail of a portion of the track,driving-chains, pendantframe, and pendant. Fig. Vis adctailshowing theconstruction of a pendantframe and means of attaching the pendant-frameto the propelling-chain. Fig. V1 is a vertical longitudinal sectionthrough another form of the apparatus, showing a construction whichallows the swimmer to propel himself at his own speed or remainstationary in suspension or to be drawn through the water by theconveying means at his option. Fig. VII is a detail of thesupporting-brackets and adjacent mechanism used in the form shown inFig. VII. Fig. VIII is a detail view showing the clutch for the pendant.

I11 the drawings I have illustrated the invention as erected to give apath of travel in a rectangular circuit.

1 designates the walls of a tank, which may be of masonry, concrete, orother material and which is filled with water 2. Around the border ofthe tank is a series of trackstandards l, which are provided withbrackets 5, upon which rests a rail 6, the rail being secured. to thebrackets by means of bolts, as shown. Certain of the track-standards aare longer than the rest and are provided with brackets 7, which. lieabove the track-brack ets 5 and have ournals 8.

9 designates a propelling-chain which consists of center links 10 andside links 11 and which is supported at suitable intervals by means ofhangers 12. The shank of a hanger passes through and forms a pin whichjoins the two side links with a center link. Each hanger is supported bya wheel 13, which rides upon the track 6. In order to guide thepropelling-ehain, idlers 14; are employed. at each corner of the tank.Each idler may comprise a sheave supported upon a shaft 15, the shaft 15being rotatably mounted on an arm 70. I prefer to employ at least twoidlers at each corner of the tank, so that the turn of the chain at thecorners will not be too abrupt. In order to propel the chain, a

sprocket 16, mounted 011 a shaft 17, which revolves in a ournal 8, ISprovided, there being fast and loose pulleys 18 and 19, respectively,mounted upon the shaft 17. An en gine 20 may be connected by a belt 21with the pulleys 18 and 19, the belt 21 for convenience of illustrationbeing shown as passing over idlers 22.

23 designates pendant-frames each of which comprises a horizontal arm 24and uprights 25 and 26, each upright being joined to the chain bypassing through two side links and a center link, as shown in detail inV. One end of the pendant-hanger is provided with a pulley 27, whichsupports a pendant 28. One end of the pendant 28 is preferably providedwith a weight 29 and at an intermediate point is provided with a stop 30and at its lower end is provided with a hook 31. A chain 32, suspendedbya wheel 33,is fastened to the pendant 28 at an intermediate point. Thechain 32 may be in two sections, one of which is provided with a hook34, which may be hooked into any link of the chain, whereby its lengthmay be regulated as desired. The wheel 33 rests upon the horizontal bar24 and is free to be moved along the same.

In operation the chain 9 is driven by the sprocket 16, and thependant-frames 23 are propelled around the tank, carrying with themtheir attached pendants. A pendant which is not being used will assumethe posi tion shown in the illustration of the pendant at the right ofFig. II, in which the weight 29 has descended until the stop 30 liesagainst the pulley 27, the weight in falling having caused the wheel 33to be moved adjacent to the pulley, as shown, thus raising the lower endof the pendant away from the water, so that it is out of the way.

In order to be propelled through the water, a person may grasp the lowerend of the pendant 28, which keeps the head of the person above thewater, and it absolutely prevents drowning, and the position assumed bythe person when being drawn through the water is maintained near thehorizontal, and the position assumed by the pendant will be that of themiddle pendant in Fig. II, in which the chain has been moved to the rearof the pendant-hanger. If the swimmer propels himself to an extentsufficient to exceed the speed of the chain 9, the weight 29 will dropsomewhat to take up the slack in the pendant, whereupon the chain 32will move forward, and the pendant and its accessories will have theposition illustrated at the left of Fig. II. This pendant is shown taut;but it should be understood that the weight 29 always keeps the pendanttaut even though the person in the water is not being propelled by thedevice.

I have shown and described the apparatus as erected over an artificialbody of water". but the invention is of especial adaptability forseaside resorts and could easily be constructed over a bay or directlyon the ocean,

although it is preferable to build it over wa ter not too rough.

In Fig. VI the track 6 is supported as before described, and thetraveling conveyer comprises a series of bars 60, which are joinedtogether and supported by hangers 61, each hanger having a pin 62, whichpasses through the lapped ends of the bars 60. The hangers 61 aresupported from the chain in a manner similar to the pendant-framehangers 23.

63 is a hanger supported by a wheel 64, which rests upon the bars 60.

65 is a clamping-bar pivoted to the hanger 63, and a spring 66 serves totilt the clampingb ar normally out of engagement with the rod 60.

67 is a controlling-rope attached to the clamping-bar and which extendsdown the pendant, being guided through eyelets 68, so that its lower endis within reach of the swimmer. The lower end of the rope 67 has a hook69, which may be hooked into an eye on the pendant.

If the person wishes to be drawn along by the traveling conveyer, hepulls upon the rope 67, which throws the clamping-bar close to the rod60 and attaches the hook 69, so that the clamping-bar is held up againstthe rod. The resulting friction draws along the hanger 63 and tilts it,which causes the hanger to be securely clamped to the rod 60 and drawnalong thereby. When the person desires to remain stationary in thewater, he un hooks the hook 69, and the spring 66 throws down theclamping-bar, and. the rods 60 move under the wheel 64, the latterfreely turning. This allows the person to propel himself at the speed hedesires and is especially applicable for young swimmers, as it supportsthem, yet does not interfere with their imperfect strokes. Thus by thedevice the person has the option of being drawn along or allowed toremain free, and the control is at his immediate command.

hat I claim is- 1. In a swimming apparatus, a traveling conveyer,pendant-frame hangers attached thereto, and traveling pendants on thependant-frame hangers and freely movable there- 2. In a swimmingapparatus, a traveling conveyer, pendant-frame hangers attached thereto,and pendants automatically adjust able on the pendant-frame hangers.

3. In a swimming apparatus, a traveling conveyer, a pendant-frame hangercomprising a horizontal bar, vertical rods connecting the bar with theconveyer, a pulley near one end of the horizontal rod, a pendant runningover the pulley and a weight on the pendant.

4. In a swimming apparatus, a traveling conveyer, a pendant-frame hangercomprising a horizontal bar, vertical rods connecting the bar with theconveyer, a pulley near one end of the horizontal rod, a pendant ruimingover the pulley, a weight on the pendant, a wheel on the horizontal rod,and a flexible connection from the pendant to the wheel.

5. In a swimming apparatus, a traveling conveyer, a pendant-frame hangercompris ing a horizontal bar, vertical rods connecting the bar with theconveyer, a pulley near one end of the horizontal rod, a pendant runningover the pulley, a weight on the pendant, a wheel on the horizontal rod,and an extensible, flexible connection from the pendant to the wheel.

In a swimming apparatus, a traveling conveyer comprising a chain, apendantlrame hanger comprising a horizontal bar, vertical. rodsconnected to the horizontal bar and forming pins for links in the chain.

7. In a swimming apparatus, a stationary track, a chain, wheels on thetrack, hangers from the wheels forming pins for links of the chain, anda pendantdrame hangerconnected to the chain.

8. In a swimming apparatus, a stationary track, pendant-hangerssupported thereby, a flexible traveling conveyer for propelling thependant-hangers, and pendants rolling on the hangers.

9. In a swimming apparatus, a flexible traveling conveyer, pendanthangers connected therewith, pendants adapted to travel on the hangers,and means for propelling the conveyer. I

10. In a swimming apparatus, a traveling conveyer comprising a chain,pendant-hang ers attached to the chain, idlers supportin the chain, andpendants adapted to play a 011g the hangers.

11. In a swimming apparatus, posts, brackets thereon, an endless trackon the brackets, an endless traveling conveyer mounted on the track,pendant-hangers attached to the conveyer, pendants adapted to play alongthe hangers, and means for driving the conveyer.

12. In a swimming apparatus, posts, brackets thereon, an endless tracksupported by the brackets, wheels on the track, an endless chain, rodsforming pins for links of the chain. and connected to the wheels,pendant-fra1ne hangers connected to the chain, and pendants connected.to the hangers.

13. In aswimming apparatus, posts, brackets thereon, an endless tracksupported by the brackets, wheels on the track, an endless chain, rodsfori'ning pins for links of the chain and connected to the wheels,pendant-frame hangers connected to the chain, pendants adjustablyconnected to the hangers, and stops on the pendants.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name, in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses, at Los Angeles, in the county of LosAngelesand State of California, this 19th day of November, 1903.

CLABEORN I RANDOLPH.

Witnesses:

GEORGE T. IIAGKLEY, JULIA TOWNSEND.

